Figure 4. Snapshots recorded from the finite element simulations, illustrating the formation of (A) a helix, (B) a hemihelix with single perversion and (C) a hemihelix with 12 perversions.

The colors represent the local values of the computed von Mises stress. The prestrain was the same in all three cases. , , (A) , (B) , (C) . The images are taken when the end to end distances are . Gravity was included in the simulations and acts from left to right in these images.